Vietnam Airlines Business Class Review

Vietnam Airlines connects Vietnam with major cities across Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East through hubs in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Vietnam Airlines’ business class is the flag carrier’s long-haul premium cabin, with Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft operating many key international routes.

The travelers’ experience depends heavily on route and aircraft. On long-haul Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, Vietnam Airlines uses a business-class cabin with lie-flat seats, a brown-and-olive-green color scheme, and details tied to the airline’s Golden Lotus branding. Dining gives the business-class product a stronger sense of place, especially when the menu includes Vietnamese food, Vietnamese iced coffee, and other route-specific dishes.

This Vietnam Airlines business class review covers the airport experience, lounge access, onboard comfort, dining, service, and in-flight entertainment, with attention to how the seat and overall product vary by aircraft and route.

In Vietnam, the airline’s main operations center on Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. Noi Bai International Airport is located 19 miles (30 km) from central Hanoi. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is closer to central Ho Chi Minh City, approximately 5 miles (8 km) from District 1. At Tan Son Nhat International Airport, international flights generally use Terminal 2.

Vietnam Airlines business-class passengers receive SkyPriority services at eligible airports. These may include priority check-in, priority baggage drop-off, expedited immigration and security lines, Lounge access, priority boarding, priority disembarkation, transfer-desk priority, and priority baggage handling.

Baggage allowance depends on route, ticket conditions, and fare rules. On many international routes, Vietnam Airlines business class includes checked baggage up to 70 pounds (32 kilograms) per piece, while hand baggage includes two carry-on pieces and one accessory, with a combined weight of up to 40 pounds (18 kg).

Lotus Lounge is Vietnam Airlines’ main lounge brand. In Vietnam, Lotus Lounge locations include Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi; Da Nang International Airport (DAD); Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR); and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. The exact size and atmosphere vary by airport, but the core amenities are broadly similar across most Lotus Lounge locations.

The Lotus Lounges give business-class passengers a comfortable place to spend time before the flight. The lounges usually include:

• Buffet food with Vietnamese and international dishes
• Drinks, including coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, and spirits
• Work areas and a general seating area
• Wi-Fi
• Showers in specific lounges
• Baggage storage and smoking rooms at some locations

Lotus Lounges’ strongest features are the Vietnamese dishes, drinks, workstations, and quiet seating areas.

As a SkyTeam Alliance member, Vietnam Airlines partners with airlines such as Air France and Delta Air Lines, and eligible passengers can access SkyTeam lounge facilities at specific airports, including Sydney and Heathrow.

Vietnam Airlines operates Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 787-10, as well as Airbus A350-900 aircraft, on many long-haul routes. Airbus A321 and A321neo aircraft handle shorter regional and domestic flights. The long-haul product represents the strongest version of Vietnam Airlines' business class, since these aircraft carry the airline’s lie-flat seats.

• Boeing 787-9 aircraft have 28 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout.
• Airbus A350-900 aircraft have 29 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout.

Each long-haul seat offers direct aisle access, so seat choice mainly comes down to privacy and position. Solo travelers often prefer window seats for more privacy. Center seats are a good choice for two passengers traveling together, although the fixed divider may be a bit constraining for a comfortable conversation.

The long-haul business-class seats convert into lie-flat beds and include personal storage space, power outlets, USB ports, reading lights, a side surface, and a sturdy tray table. Seat controls are within easy reach, while the handheld in-flight entertainment remote controls the entertainment screen.

On the Boeing 787-9, each seat converts into a fully flat bed measuring up to 75 inches (190 cm) long and about 21.5 inches (55 cm) wide. The seat shell gives a reasonable degree of privacy without creating a fully enclosed suite.

On some Airbus A350-900s, the seats may not have central overhead bins or individual air vents.

On most long flights, passengers usually receive a thick blanket and pillow.

Vietnam Airlines business-class dining features Vietnamese food, regional ingredients, and international dishes, with menus that vary by route and season. Vietnam Airlines also adjusts its food selections for specific holidays and special occasions, including Christmas and Oktoberfest.

On long-haul routes, the meal usually follows a multi-course structure. The first meal may include:

• Amuse-bouche or starter
• Appetizer, such as smoked salmon, salad, or soup
• Bread, including garlic bread
• Main course, with Asian and Western choices
• Dessert or fresh fruit

A flight attendant usually takes the meal order before or shortly after takeoff, and then serves dishes individually instead of from a cart. On longer international routes, Vietnam Airlines typically uses porcelain tableware, metal cutlery, and linens to create a more formal setting.

The Vietnamese option is usually the strongest part of the dining experience. Depending on the route, the menu may include Phở Bò, lemongrass-grilled prawns, bún chả, crab cakes, seaweed salad, steamed rice, and stir-fried bok choy. These dishes give Vietnam Airlines’ business class a clearer sense of place than a standard international menu.

Western choices may include beef tenderloin, roasted duck, pan-seared sea bass, baked shellfish, or pasta. Breakfast can include Vietnamese dishes alongside English or Continental options. Fresh fruit may be available at breakfast or for dessert, while garlic bread is often served with the main meal on long-haul routes.

Travelers who need a special meal for their flight should request it in advance through Vietnam Airlines’ website.

Vietnam Airlines business-class passengers usually receive a welcome drink after boarding, with options such as fruit juice, water, or sparkling wine. Once airborne, Vietnam Airlines may serve Champagne such as Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top Brut, although the exact label varies by route, season, and catering station.

A separate drinks menu usually accompanies the meal. Depending on route, aircraft, and catering cycle, the selection may include:

• Champagne
• Red and white wines
• Beer
• Spirits, such as Campari, Rémy Martin V.S.O.P., Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal, Johnnie Walker, and Baileys
• Soft drinks
• Tea and herbal tea
• Coffee, espresso, and cappuccino
• Sparkling water
• Fresh juices
• Milk
• Vietnamese iced coffee

The airline’s signature cocktails are among the more distinctive parts of the onboard drinks program. On some routes from Vietnam to Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK, France, and Germany, business-class passengers may find cocktails such as Beloved Hue and Phan Thiet Red Dunes.

Vietnamese iced coffee gives the beverage list a stronger sense of place than a standard long-haul drinks selection. On some flights, regional Vietnamese coffee preparations, including coffee with condensed milk, may also be available.

Service in Vietnam Airlines’ business class is usually polite, formal, and efficient, with a style rooted in Vietnamese hospitality as opposed to highly personalized luxury service. The flight attendant team typically manages boarding, dining, drinks, and rest periods in a well-organized way, although consistency varies by route and crew.

Cabin crew wear a modernized version of the traditional Vietnamese áo dài, redesigned in 2015 by designer Minh Hạnh with a neckline drawn from the lotus flower and the airline's Golden Lotus logo printed on the fabric.

In-flight entertainment in Vietnam Airlines’ business class varies by aircraft, but long-haul Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft generally include individual screens and the airline’s LotuStar system. On the Boeing 787-9, Vietnam Airlines offers a 15.4-inch personal screen, headphones, USB charging, and other seat amenities.

The entertainment library usually includes:

• International movies
• Vietnamese cinema
• Japanese and Chinese titles
• Television series
• Documentaries
• Music and audiobooks
• Games
• Interactive route map

An in-flight entertainment remote can control the screen from the seat, which is especially useful when the seat is reclined.

Through PressReader, passengers can access more than 7,000 newspapers and magazines in 60 languages. The service starts working 24 hours before the scheduled departure time and continues until 24 hours after landing, and downloaded publications can stay on the device.

In-flight Wi-Fi is available only on certain Vietnam Airlines flights operated by Airbus A350 aircraft.

On long-haul flights, the seat setup usually includes a pillow, a thick blanket, and slippers. On flights longer than 4 hours, business-class passengers also receive an amenity kit. Contents vary by route and kit cycle, but the kit may include:

• Eye mask
• Ear plugs
• Socks
• Comb
• Dental kit
• Body moisturizer
• Lip balm
• Foam slippers

Some kits also include stickers that indicate meal and do-not-disturb preferences. Vietnam Airlines has used different amenity-kit suppliers over time, so specific skincare brands can change.

Lavatory amenities also vary by route and aircraft. On specific long-haul aircraft, passengers may find basic toiletries, skincare products, dental items, flowers, or air-freshening details, but these touches are not guaranteed on every flight.

Crew often hand out hot towels at various points during the flight, including at boarding or before dining, depending on the route and their workflow.

Vietnam Airlines frames its sustainability work around newer aircraft, fuel-efficiency measures, waste reduction, and social responsibility programs. The airline has also linked its long-term environmental work to Vietnam’s broader aviation goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The fleet includes newer-generation aircraft such as Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus A350-900, and Airbus A321neo. These aircraft achieve lower fuel burn and emissions than older-generation aircraft, although the exact reductions depend on the route, load, and operating conditions.

In 2023, Vietnam Airlines took part in SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge on a Hanoi to Frankfurt flight. The airline used a Boeing 787-9 and introduced several waste-reduction measures, including sustainable meals, passenger bags made from retired life vests, and initiatives that encouraged passengers to use personal reusable items.

Vietnam Airlines has also introduced sustainable aviation fuel on some flights. In 2025, the airline began using SAF on flights departing from European Union airports and later used SAF on some domestic services from Da Nang.

Beyond its environmental work, Vietnam Airlines supports community programs focused on health, food waste, and social welfare. Its partnership with VietHarvest redirects surplus food from flights to local charities, while other programs have supported children’s medical care through Operation Smile.

The dining program is where Vietnam Airlines' business class feels most distinctly Vietnamese, especially when the menu includes local dishes, Vietnamese iced coffee, and signature cocktails such as Beloved Hue.

Long-haul Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft offer the most luxurious business-class product, with lie-flat seats, direct aisle access on key layouts, and a calmer cabin than the short-haul Airbus A321 product.

Vietnam Airlines’ membership in the SkyTeam Alliance adds value through partner lounge access, mileage earning, and codeshare flights with SkyTeam airlines.

Vietnam Airlines business class on Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 routes offers lie-flat seats with direct aisle access and a dining program centered on Vietnamese cuisine. The main weakness is inconsistency: aircraft type, Wi-Fi availability, lounge quality, and amenities vary enough by route that the experience is not uniform. It is worth flying on long-haul Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 routes, especially when seat privacy and Vietnamese dining are more important than a highly personalized luxury-service model.

• Aircraft: Airbus A350 and Boeing 787
• Seat Layout: 1-2-1
• Dining Focus: Vietnamese dishes
• Lounge Type: Lotus Lounge
• Reviewed: June 2026

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